Air-lift fluid-pump.



P. Macon/ass.

AIR LIFT FLUID PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5. m5.

Patvntm-lSept 12, 1916 39 19 fizloij I m 27' a .32 as 7 39 PAUL MCCOMBS, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

AIR-LIFT FLUID-PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed April 6, 1915. Serial No. 19,440.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL MoCoMBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Lift Fluid-Pumps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in air lift fluid pumps and the primary object of my invention is to provide a construction whereby water can be lifted from great depths with a relatively small amount of air pressure.

The principle or theory uponwhich this invention is based has beenwell known to those skilled in hydrolysis for a long time,

the principle being that of lifting the fluid or water step at a time; and the distance in feet of the lift will represent the amount of pressure in pounds per square inch that will be utilized in the structure. That is to say, it is well known that water can be lifted a little over thirty feet by a pressure of fifteen pounds per square inch, which is the atmospheric pressure.

My present improvement, speaking, pertains to providing a construction which can be placed within a pipe of any desired diameter according to-the desired capacity of the apparatus, and which will, after it is started, provide a continuous flow of the liquid or water. I

As stated the principle upon which this invention is based has been long well known, but so far as I am aware, I am the first to provide a construction in continuous and adoining sections which can be placed within a practical sized pipe such as is used in' deep wells; and which will provide a continuous flow of water from any desired depth with an air pressure of fifteen pounds more or less per square inch depending upon the length of the section.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line z2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective Fig. 1 is a detached View showing one of the air escape controlling valves.

generically Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents the casing or pipe of my machine. This casing or pipe is provided throughout 1t s length with a centrally arranged flowplpe 2, and the casing 1 at opposite sides of the flow-pipe 2 is divided into a plurality of sections, the number of which will vary according to the depth of the well. As here shown for illustration purposes the casing 1 is divided into the sections 3, 4 and 5. Where a pressure of fifteen pounds per square inch is to be used, these sections will each be fifteen feet; so that' two sections together represent thirty feet, the distance that fifteen pounds pressure will lift water. Each of these sections is divided into two chambers which I will term reservoirs, the interior walls of which form the walls of the flowpipe 2. For the purpose of assisting in describing the invention the reservoirs of section 3 are numbered respectively6 and 7; the reservoirs of section 4 are numbered 8 and 9, and the reservoirs of section 5 are numbered 10 and 11. I

Located in the flow-pipe 2 and approxi mately at the bottom of the reservoirs of each section are reversing valves 12, 13 and 14. These valves may or maynot be automatic in their action as will be further described hereinafter.

Passing longitudinally through the reservoirs at one side is an air pipe 15, and passing through the reservoirs at the opposite side is an air pipe 16. These air pipes are provided with outlet openings 17 which are located at the tops of the several reservoirs as shown. l hese pipes also extend through the top 18 which closes the end of the casing 1 and carry at their upper ends suitable fun nel-shaped portions 19. Placed in these pipes below the funnels are suitable valves 20, which are here shown of the oscillating type. These valves are adapted to alternately close the upper ends of the pipes 15 and 16 in a manner to be presently explained. Supported outside of the casing and upon the top 18 are two cylinders 21 and 22. These cylinders carry elongatedprstons 23 and 24, the stems 25 of which extend through the top 18 and carry within the reservoirs 6 and 7 suitable floats 2'6 and 27. The pipes 15 and 16 are connected by a transverse pipe or passage-way 27, with the cylinders 21 and 22 which are each provided with air pressure inlets 28. When the pistons 23 and 24 are in a downward position, they close these air pressure inlets 28, but when they are up, as shown at 23, the air pressure inlet is open and air pressure will flow into the pipe 15 and through the. outlets 17 into the respective reservoirs; while the other air pressure inlet 28 is closed by the piston 24 and air pressure is not admitted to the pipe 16. When air pressure is admitted to the pipe 15, the air escape valve 20 is closed, as shown, and the air escape valve 20 is open, the function of which will be presently explained.

The reversing valves 12, 13 and 14 may be permitted to operate by the pressure of the water itself, but I have here shown means for operating these valves, and which con'-' sists of the rods 29 which are connected at one side of the pivotal points 30 of the valves, and the rods 31 which are connected to the valves at the opposite sides of their pivotal points 30. The upper rods 29 and 31 pass through the top of the casing and are connected respectively with pistons 32 and 33 which are located in the cylinders 34.

A walking beam 35 is intermediately pivoted on the support 36. This walking beam is connected with the pistons 24 and 23 by suitable links 37 and the outer ends of this walking beam are provided with slots 38- which receive pins 39 on the crank levers 40, that are connected with the air escape valves 20 and 20'. v

A downwardly closing valve 41 is located in the extreme lower end of the flow-pipe 2, and water is permitted to fiow upward through this valve; but the valve will close against any downward flow or pressureof the water.

The valves 12,13 and 14' are preferably carried in suitable cages 42 which are of a size to fit within the flow-pipe, as shown, the walls of the flow-pipe being cut away, as shown, to permit the swinging of the valves, and the flow of the water.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The lower section being submerged. The reversing ,valveswill be moved preferably to a horizontal or neutral position, and water will flow through the valve 41 into the lower section 5 and fill the reservoirs and the flow-pipe of the lower section up to the water level of the well. Water is then poured through one of the funnels 19 until all of the reservoirs and the flow-pipes are filled and water is 'fiowing out of the outletopening 43 at the top of the flow-pipe 2. \Vith all the valves in the positions shown in Fig. 1, air pressure is turned on, and it flows through the pipe 15 and it will drive the water out ofthe reservoir 6 through the flow-pipe and out of the outlet 43. So soon as this reservoir is empty, the walking beam herein set forth.

is reversed and the air pressure flows down the pipe 16, and the machine will then run itself as follows: Reservoir 6 being empty and its reversing valve 12 being turned and the air pressure shifted to the pipe 16 and to the reservoirs 7. 9 and 11, water will be forced from 7 out through the outlet 43 and the water in reservoir 9 will be forced into reservoir 6. As the water fills reservoir (3, it will force the float 26 up and change the air pressure over to the pipe 15 and to reservoirs 6, 8 and 10 and will reverse the valves 12, 13 and 14, and the air pressure will force the water from 6 to the outlet 43 and from reservoir 8 to reservoir 7 and from reservoir 10 to reservoir 9. W hen the water is driven out of reservoirs 6, 8 and 10 then 9 and 7 will be filled, and the float 27 will shove up the walking beam, and reverse the air pres sure to its side of the apparatus. This process will automatically continue until the air pressure is cut off. If the valve 41 remains tight, the machine will remain full of water and ready for its operation at any time.

I desire to be understood that while I have described my invention as operating with pressure of fifteen pounds to the square inch that this pressure may be varied within practical limits by either increasing or decreasing it. If the pressure is increased, then the length of the sections of the apparatus may be correspondingly increased. If the pressure is decreased, then the length of the sections of the apparatus will be correspondingly decreased. I also desire it to be understood that the capacity of the respective reservoirs and of the flow-pipes should be approximately the same in order to give free passage of the water from one to the other. And all the sections must be of the same length so that the cubic contents of each reservoir shall b the same in all sections.

The air pressure for the cylinders 34. and '34 is supplied from the cylinders 21 and 22 and is controlled as followsz -A pipe 27 connects the cylinder 21 with the cylinder 34 and a pipe 27 connects the cylinder 22 with the cylinder 34. In this way when air the reversing valves 12, 13 and 14-, the air pressure will reverse these valves according .to the positions of the pistons 23 and 24,

which as previously explained,are operated and controlled by the floats 26 and 27 in the manner and for the Having thus fully described my invenpurpose already tion what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a casing divided into casing divided into sections at opposite sides' of the flow-pipe constituting two reservoirs for each section and at opposite sides of the flow pipes, the flow pipe constructed to have communication with the two reservoirs of each section, means for alternately shutting off communication of the reservoirs of one side of the flow-pipe and making. communication between the flow-pipe and the reservoirs at the opposite side of the flowpipe, and an outlet at the top of the upper flow pipe, whereby the flow of water is made step by step first on one side of the flow-pipe, and then on the other side of the flow-pipe, throughout the entire length of the casing.

3. An apparatus of the kind describedcomprising a casing, a flow-pipe arranged therein throughout the entire length of the ,casing, the casing divided into sections constituting two reservoirs and a central flowpipe for each section, and located at opposite sides of the flow-pipe, the flow-pipe having communication with the two reservoirs intermediately by pivoted valves adapted to establish communication alternately between the reservoirs and the said flow-pipe, and means for supplying air pressure alternately to the reservoirs at opposite sides of the flow-pipe, as and for the pur-- pose described. 7

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a circular casing, a longitudinal flow-pipe extending through the casing and dividing it into a central flow-pipe passage and into side reservoir passages, the side reservoir passages divided into sections, the lower ends of the reservoirs of the several sections adapted to have communication, with the flow-pipe, elongated flat centrally pivoted valves located in the flow-pipe at the lower ends of the reservoirs and adapted to alternately establish communication between the reservoirs at one side of the flow-pipe with the flowpipe, and to cut off the communication with the reservoirs 'at the opposite side of the;

fl0w-pipe, and means'for supplying pressure alternately to the reservoirs located at opposite sides of the flow-pipe.

5. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a casing, a flow-pipe extending longitudinally therethrough and dividing it into a central flow-passage and two side reservoir passages, the reservoir passages having horizontal partitions dividing them into sections, the lower ends of the reser-' voirs adapted to have alternate communication with the flow-pipe, intermediately pivoted valves located in the flow-pipe and adapted to alternately establish communi cation with the flow-pipe, means for supplying pressure to the reservoirs alternately at opposite sides of the flow-pipe, and a mechanism controlled by the rise of the water in the upper reservoirs for shifting a1r pressure, as and for the purpose described.

6. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a casing, a flow pipe extending longitudinally through the casing andforming it into a central flow-passage and two reservoir passages, the casing having horizontal partitions dividing it into sections and constituting two reservoirs for each section and located at opposite sides of the flow-pipe, the lower ends of the reservoirs having communicationwith the flow pipe, intermediately pivoted valves adapted to control the communications and to alternately connect the reservoirs with the flowpipe, an air pipe passing through each series of the reservoirs at each side of the flow: pipe, automatic means for controlling the air pressure alternately to these pipes, and means for shifting or reversing the valves, and means for alternately establishing communication between the air pipes and the atmosphere, and for cutting ofi said communication, as and for the purpose described.

7. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a casing, a flow-pipe extending longitudinally therethrough and dividing the casing into a central flow-passage and side reservoir passages, transversely arranged partitions dividing the casing into reservoir sections, the reservoirs adapted to have communication with the flow-pipe, in-

termediately pivoted valves adapted to alternately .establish communication between the flow-pipe and the reservoirs, air

pipes communicating with the respective reservoirs, and a fioat mechanism alternately controlling the flow of air pressure tothe reservoirs and air from the reservoirs, as and for the purpose described.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a well casing divided into a plurality of reservoirs one above the other, a flow-pipe common to the said reser-- voirs and within the casing, valves in the flow-pipe controlling the communications zigzag step by step movement for the purbetweon the reservoirs and flow-pipe, means pose described. 10 for controlling the valves to cause a zigzag In testimony whereof I hereunto uflix my upper movement of the Water step by step signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

5 from a lower reservoir to an upper one, and PAUL MGCOMBS.

a source of air pressure in communication \Vitnesses: 1 with the reservoirs whereby the Water is J. K. MOORE,

lifted from one reservoir to the other in a A. S. PATTISON. 

